14 Delicious Ways to Eat and Drink Matcha

Matcha Tea Marshmallow Crispy Treats
Photo: Abby Hocking

Matcha is a finely ground powder made from specially grown green tea, a method of tea brewing that dates back to the 12th century. The preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha is ceremonial in China and Japan, and the drink itself has grown in popularity all over the world. For this recipe roundup, we've included a few of our favorite matcha drink preparations (including a cocktail!), along with inventive ways to use this earthy powdered green tea in snacks like cookies, cupcakes, and even a spin on Rice Krispie Treats.

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Matcha Tea Cake Cookies

Matcha Tea Cake Cookies
© CON POULOS

These delicate cookies are made with oil, so they're moist and tender. Matcha gives them a light, toasty flavor and turns them a pretty green. The finished cookies are adorned with a snowy dusting of more matcha combined with powdered sugar.

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Rose Matcha Latte

Rose Matcha
Photo by Huge Galdones / Food Styling by Christina Zerkis

Here, we blend matcha with oat milk for a light, creamy latte. Rosebuds release their fragrance in the warm brew; if you can't find a matcha with rosebuds, purchase dried rosebuds separately.

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Green Tea Fortune Cookies

Green-Tea Fortune Cookies
© Con Poulos

Master baker Joanne Chang likes having fun with the fortunes she puts inside these large cookies, like "Give the chef a big kiss." Shaping the tuiles while they're hot can be tricky, so consider using cotton gloves.

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Matcha White Chocolate Mousse

7 Festive St. Patrick's Day Desserts
© Molly Yeh

Light, toasty matcha powder balances out the sweetness of white chocolate in this luscious four-ingredient mousse by cookbook author and blogger Molly Yeh.

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Matcha Cake with Matcha Buttercream

Matcha Cake with Matcha Buttercream
Photo © Molly Yeh

This tasty cake recipe calls for a double dose of matcha — both in the batter and the frosting. Instead of making one big cake, the batter can also be used for about 20 cupcakes.

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Matcha Mochi

Matcha Mochi
© Molly Yeh

This version of mochi — a sweet Japanese rice cake — gets its pretty green color from matcha powder and a creamy sweetness from coconut milk.

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Matcha-Butter Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle

Matcha-Butter Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Matcha powder adds festive color to these crisp butter cookies from Aiko Cascio, a Japanese cooking instructor with the League of Kitchens in New York City. Cascio learned how to make these not-too-sweet matcha tea–flavored cookies from a friend who owns a bakery in Tokyo, where they are popular during the winter holiday season.

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Matcha Pound Cake with Almond Glaze

HD-201502-r-matcha-pound-cake-with-almond-glaze.jpg
© MOLLY YEH

For this recipe, Girl Meets Farm host Molly Yeh combines toasty matcha green tea with a sweet almond glaze to make a delicious, moist loaf that begs to be sliced.

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Iced Matcha Latte

Iced Matcha Latte
Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Dried Medjool dates provide subtle, fruity sweetness that pairs perfectly with the earthy flavor of matcha powder in this iced latte. After chopping the dates, all of the ingredients are processed together in a blender, then poured through a fine mesh strainer into a glass. Don't skip this step — it helps ensure your latte has a silky smooth texture.

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Matcha-Dusted Caramel Almonds

Matcha-Dusted Caramel Almonds
© Con Poulos

These super-crunchy, salty-sweet almonds are tossed in a homemade caramel, then dusted with fragrant green tea powder and sea salt.

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Matcha Tea Marshmallow Crispy Treats

Matcha Tea Marshmallow Crispy Treats
Abby Hocking

Chef Ted Hopson is not a fan of cookies (or dessert in general), but he loves Rice Krispies Treats. "I especially like this nontraditional combo of tannic, floral green tea and subtly sweet white chocolate," he says. "Pair this with the natural crunch and butteriness of the original Rice Krispies Treat and you have something special. Plus, the sprinkle of flaky salt gives them a sophisticated touch."

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Matcha Highball

Matcha Highball
© Lucas Allen

A trip to Japan inspired Denver bartender Jason Patz to combine matcha with Japanese whisky. Matcha tends to clump when mixed with liquid; to loosen any that's stuck to the side of the shaker, swirl the club soda in the shaker before pouring it into the glass.

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Radishes with Seaweed-Matcha Butter

Radishes with Seaweed-Matcha Butter
© Con Poulos

It's worth finding cultured butter to make chefs-restaurateurs Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske's matcha-flavored riff on the classic French appetizer; it's slightly tangy and high in butterfat.

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Matcha Latte

Matcha Latte
Photo © Molly Yeh

A steaming hot matcha latte is a comforting drink that's easy to make at home. Blogger Molly Yeh shares her easy recipe that calls for matcha powder, milk, and honey for sweetness.

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